Full spectrum extracts: what does it mean? What are the benefits, and the best products on the market in 2020

Full spectrum extracts represent a significant advancement in the realm of cannabis and hemp products, capturing the essence of the entire plant in one potent formulation. Understanding full spectrum extracts is key to appreciating their holistic approach to cannabis consumption. Unlike isolated cannabinoids, full spectrum extracts retain various cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids found naturally in the plant. This comprehensive profile is thought to enhance the therapeutic effects through what’s known as the entourage effect, where these compounds synergistically interact to boost their individual benefits potentially.

The benefits of full spectrum extracts extend beyond mere cannabinoid content. By incorporating a broad spectrum of plant compounds, they offer users a more complete cannabis experience. These extracts are believed to provide enhanced therapeutic effects compared to isolates, thanks to the combined action of cannabinoids like CBD and THC alongside terpenes and flavonoids. This synergy amplifies potential health benefits and contributes to a richer sensory experience, with flavours and aromas that reflect the plant’s natural diversity.

In 2020, the market for full spectrum extracts saw significant growth, driven by increasing consumer interest in natural, holistic remedies. As more research emerges supporting the entourage effect, consumers are turning to full spectrum extracts for their potential to deliver comprehensive wellness benefits. The year 2020 witnessed the rise of several standout brands known for their commitment to quality and innovation in full spectrum extracts. These products are revered not only for their potency and purity but also for their adherence to stringent manufacturing standards, ensuring consumers can trust in their efficacy and safety.

The cannabis world would have had to settle for this if not for the production of special mindblowing products known as Full-spectrum concentrates or Full spectrum extracts.

In the realm of cannabis and hemp products, full-spectrum extracts have gained significant attention for their holistic approach to harnessing the plant’s potential. Understanding what full-spectrum extracts entail and their benefits and exploring some of the best products available in 2020 can provide valuable insights into this burgeoning sector of the market.

What are Full Spectrum Extracts?

Full spectrum extracts refer to cannabis or hemp extracts that contain a wide array of cannabinoids, including THC, CBD, and other beneficial compounds like terpenes and flavonoids. Unlike isolates that focus on a single cannabinoid, full spectrum extracts aim to capture the synergistic effects of the entire plant, often referred to as the entourage effect.

Full-spectrum extracts are comprehensive cannabis or hemp formulations that encapsulate a wide spectrum of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial compounds naturally present in the plant. Unlike isolates that focus on extracting a single cannabinoid, such as CBD or THC, full spectrum extracts aim to preserve the synergistic interactions between various components, enhancing their overall therapeutic potential.

By retaining a diverse cannabinoid profile, full spectrum extracts harness what is known as the entourage effect, where cannabinoids and terpenes work together synergistically to amplify therapeutic benefits. This holistic approach offers users a broader range of potential health benefits and ensures a more balanced and natural experience than isolated extracts.

Exploring Full-Spectrum Extracts

Full-spectrum extracts are comprehensive formulations encompass a broad spectrum of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids derived from cannabis or hemp plants. Unlike isolates, which isolate specific compounds, full-spectrum extracts aim to preserve the natural synergy of the plant’s components, potentially enhancing therapeutic effects through what is known as the entourage effect.

Comprehensive Cannabinoid Profile

Full-spectrum extracts contain various cannabinoids, including CBD, THC, CBG, and others. Each cannabinoid interacts uniquely with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), potentially offering a range of therapeutic benefits.

• Wide Range of Cannabinoids: By retaining multiple cannabinoids, full spectrum extracts provide a more holistic approach to cannabis consumption.
• Enhanced Therapeutic Potential: The combined action of cannabinoids may enhance their individual therapeutic effects, potentially offering relief for conditions such as pain, inflammation, anxiety, and more.

Synergistic Benefits of Terpenes and Flavonoids

In addition to cannabinoids, full spectrum extracts include terpenes and flavonoids, natural compounds responsible for the plant’s aroma, flavour, and potential health benefits. These compounds work synergistically with cannabinoids, contributing to the overall therapeutic experience.

• Aroma and Flavor Enhancement: Terpenes contribute to full spectrum extracts with distinctive scent and taste profiles, enriching the user experience.
• Potential Health Benefits: Terpenes and flavonoids may interact with cannabinoids to amplify their therapeutic effects, supporting a wide range of wellness goals.

Entourage Effect

The entourage effect describes the enhanced benefits that arise from the synergistic interaction of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in full-spectrum extracts. This phenomenon suggests that these compounds work better together than in isolation, potentially maximizing therapeutic efficacy.

• Enhanced Effectiveness: By leveraging the entourage effect, full spectrum extracts may offer more comprehensive relief and wellness support.
• Natural Balance: The holistic blend of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in full-spectrum extracts promotes natural balance within the body’s systems.

Benefits of Full Spectrum Extracts

Full spectrum extracts are renowned for their comprehensive cannabinoid profiles, which encompass a wide array of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial compounds naturally present in cannabis or hemp plants. Understanding the specific advantages of full spectrum extracts can help consumers make informed choices about their wellness regimen.

Enhanced Therapeutic Benefits

Full spectrum extracts go beyond isolated cannabinoids like CBD or THC by incorporating a synergistic blend of multiple cannabinoids and terpenes. This holistic approach is believed to enhance therapeutic effects compared to isolates. By harnessing the entourage effect, where cannabinoids work together synergistically, full spectrum extracts may provide more robust relief for conditions such as pain, inflammation, anxiety, and sleep disorders.

• Synergistic Effects: The combination of cannabinoids and terpenes in full spectrum extracts may amplify their individual therapeutic benefits.
• Comprehensive Relief: Users report experiencing a broader range of potential health benefits due to the diverse cannabinoid profile.

Broad-Spectrum of Cannabinoids

One of the primary appeals of full spectrum extracts is their ability to offer a broad spectrum of cannabinoids. Each cannabinoid, including CBD, THC, CBG, and others, interacts uniquely with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). This interaction supports balance within the ECS and comprehensively addresses specific health concerns.

• Comprehensive Cannabinoid Profile: Full spectrum extracts provide a holistic approach to cannabinoid intake, potentially addressing a wider range of health issues.
• Tailored Benefits: Different cannabinoids may offer targeted benefits, such as pain relief, anti-inflammatory effects, or mood enhancement.

Natural Plant Compounds

In addition to cannabinoids, full spectrum extracts contain natural plant compounds like terpenes and flavonoids. These compounds are responsible for the distinct aroma and flavour of cannabis and play a crucial role in enhancing the overall therapeutic potential of the extract.

• Enhanced Aroma and Flavor: Terpenes contribute to the unique scent and taste profiles of full spectrum extracts, enriching the user experience.
• Potential Health Benefits: Terpenes and flavonoids interact with cannabinoids in what’s known as the entourage effect, potentially enhancing the extract’s overall health benefits.

Best Full-Spectrum Extract Products in 2020

In 2020, the market for full-spectrum extracts saw an influx of high-quality products from reputable brands, each offering unique benefits and adhering to stringent quality standards. These top picks have garnered attention for their purity, potency, and commitment to sustainable practices.

Brand A: Organic Excellence

Brand A distinguishes itself with a strong commitment to organic farming practices and sustainable extraction methods. Their full-spectrum extracts are renowned for their purity and potency, appealing to consumers seeking natural, environmentally-conscious options.

• Organic Farming Practices: Brand A prioritizes organic cultivation methods, ensuring their extracts are free from synthetic chemicals and pesticides.
• Sustainable Extraction: Utilizing eco-friendly extraction processes, Brand A maintains the integrity of the plant’s natural compounds while minimizing environmental impact.

Brand B: Terpene-Rich Formulations

Brand B stands out for its focus on terpene preservation and cannabinoid diversity. Their full-spectrum extracts are celebrated for robust flavours and therapeutic efficacy, appealing to connoisseurs seeking a sensory-rich experience.

• Terpene Preservation: Brand B emphasizes preserving terpenes, contributing to their extracts’ distinct aroma and taste profiles.
• Diverse Cannabinoid Profiles: By incorporating a wide range of cannabinoids, Brand B’s products aim to maximize the entourage effect, enhancing overall therapeutic benefits.

Brand C: Innovation in Extraction

Specializing in innovative extraction techniques, Brand C pushes boundaries in full-spectrum extracts. Their products highlight the entourage effect while maintaining stringent quality control measures, ensuring consistency and potency.

• Advanced Extraction Methods: Brand C utilizes cutting-edge extraction technologies to extract a comprehensive profile of cannabinoids and terpenes.
• Quality Control: With a focus on maintaining high standards, Brand C ensures that each batch of full-spectrum extracts meets rigorous quality and purity criteria.

What are Full-spectrum cannabis concentrates?

Literally speaking, the word ‘spectrum’ in cannabis refers to the different compounds of therapeutic importance produced by the trichome glands of the cannabis plant. So when a product is referred to as ‘full spectrum’, it basically means all the compounds.

Full-spectrum extracts are a special group of cannabis concentrates produced to maintain the complex group of beneficial compounds and components in the raw plant material without changing the chemical nature or structure. In some markets, these products are called Full Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO) or Full Spectrum extracts Cannabis Oil (FSCO). They also come in various forms, and the major ones are:

•         High Terpene Full Spectrum Extract (HTFSE)
•         High Cannabinoid Full Spectrum Extract (HCFSE)
•         Live Resin
•         Sauce
•         Shatter, etc.

Each cannabis plant is unique, blessed with its own profile of chemical components that all play unique roles in the medical or recreational effects derived from that plant. So, if the natural order is distorted, it concurrently impacts the effects derivable from such a plant. This is where full-spectrum extracts come in; they are produced specifically to capture all beneficial components present in the cannabis plant at the moment of extraction without altering the compounds in any way, either by oxidation or decarboxylation.

The entourage effect is often called a unique and beneficial attribute that causes a mindblowing synergistic effect. This effect, a huge advantage that full-spectrum extracts have over all other extracts, is a beneficial interaction between the several components in the cannabis product. They all interact to give fantastic results, known as the entourage effect.

How are full spectrum extracts produced?

Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy, at least on this planet anyway. The same goes for Full-spectrum extracts. They are immensely complex to produce because they involve not just removing unwanted components like fat and lipids. Still, a huge amount of beneficial compounds must also be preserved. To produce these extracts, delicate extraction procedures are utilized. They include

1. Hydrocarbon extraction – This is a very efficient full-spectrum extraction technique that involves aliphatic hydrocarbons (butane, butane mixed with propane). This extraction technique is done by cooling and rapidly liquefying the gaseous hydrocarbons run through the processed plant material. The liquefied gas dissolves the needed components of the cannabis plant material to give both solutions, which are later separated using high-end separation techniques like dewaxing or winterization.
2. Supercritical CO2 extraction – This full spectrum extract method basically employs temperature and pressure to produce specific phase changes in carbon dioxide. The CO2 interchanges between the gaseous and liquid phases possess low viscosity and surface tension to aid the extraction of therapeutic components present in plant matter. The temperature and pressure utilized are specifically designed to induce a supercritical fluid state in the CO2, where it can extract the most beneficial compounds present in cannabis plants. It should be noted that, unlike the hydrocarbon extraction technique, this requires virtually no post-extraction procedures.
3. Pressure – Another technique employed in the extraction of full spectrum extracts of cannabis concentrates is the use of pressure. Unlike other full-spectrum cannabis extraction methods, this doesn’t need the use of an extracting solvent, which makes it a lot safer than other extraction methods. However, it should be noted that a high amount of heat is utilized during this process, so there is always that slight concern that some delicate and wanted compounds, like flavonoids, terpenes, etc, might be altered.

Full-spectrum extracts are delicate, so the procedure parameters must always be maintained. Mild changes in parameter conditions might leave you with a completely different product.

It should be noted that the final component of the full spectrum extracts is relative to the component of the particular plant from which they were produced. So, the components of full-spectrum extracts derived from dried cannabis plants will differ from those obtained from fresh plants. It should also be noted that the numerous factors different plants are subjected to throughout cultivation and storage affect the final components of the extracts.

Major types of full-spectrum cannabis concentrates

As mentioned above, there are several forms of full-spectrum cannabis concentrates, all of which have unique attributes. However, in this section, I’ll be drilling down on the highly sought-after High Cannabinoid Full Spectrum Extracts (HCFSE), the crown jewel of full-spectrum cannabis concentrates. A full-spectrum cannabis concentrate with abundant terpenes, flavonoids, cannabinoids, and so on.

High Cannabinoid Full Spectrum Extracts (HCFSE) are unique; they are processed via a special vacuum purge process that converts the THC components into their original crystalline form (diamond-like); hence, the process is often called ‘diamond mining.’

A properly produced High Cannabinoid Full Spectrum Extracts (HCFSE) brings out the absolute best cannabis plant for consumers to enjoy. It is a condensed, extremely potent extract abundantly blessed with rich terpene and flavonoid content.

Sadly, not all products offered for sale on the cannabis market are properly produced and, as such, won’t give consumers the expected results or the experience they crave. This, among many others, is why you should go for the best products available.

Unlike before, when anything goes in the world of cannabis, the majority of cannabis users today are attaining connoisseur levels with high standards and taste. Many users crave uniqueness, purity, potency, convenience, etc. And in 2020, there are no High Cannabinoid Full Spectrum Extracts (HCFSE) out there that better meet that criteria than THC Diamonds!  With all the flavours and excellent potency, not to mention stable shelf life, you can’t go wrong with plugging some into your portable rig and happily moving through the world wearing that giant smile. Enjoy!

Conclusion

As consumer interest in holistic cannabis and hemp solutions continues to grow, full spectrum extracts represent a compelling option for those seeking comprehensive cannabinoid profiles and potential health benefits. Understanding the nuances of full-spectrum extracts and their benefits and exploring top products available in 2020 underscores their relevance in today’s market.

FAQs

• What is the entourage effect? The entourage effect refers to the enhanced therapeutic benefits that arise from the synergistic interaction of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds found in full spectrum extracts. This phenomenon suggests that these components work better together than in isolation.
• Are full spectrum extracts legal? The legal status of full spectrum extracts depends on local regulations. In many regions, extracts containing THC may be subject to stricter controls than those with only CBD. It’s essential to check local laws before purchasing or using full spectrum extracts.
• What are the benefits of using full spectrum extracts? Full spectrum extracts are believed to offer enhanced therapeutic benefits due to the presence of multiple cannabinoids and terpenes. Users may experience a broader range of potential health benefits, including pain relief, relaxation, and mood enhancement.
• How do full spectrum extracts differ from CBD isolates? CBD isolates contain only pure cannabidiol (CBD) without other cannabinoids or terpenes. In contrast, full spectrum extracts contain a diverse profile of cannabinoids, including THC, along with terpenes and flavonoids.
• Are there any side effects of using full spectrum extracts? Common side effects of full spectrum extracts may include dry mouth, dizziness, and fatigue, similar to those experienced with cannabis use. The intensity of side effects can vary depending on individual tolerance and the ratio of cannabinoids in the extract.
• How should full spectrum extracts be consumed? Full spectrum extracts can be consumed in various ways, including sublingual drops, capsules, edibles, and vaping. The method of consumption can affect how quickly and strongly the effects are felt.
• Can full spectrum extracts make you high? Full spectrum extracts containing THC can induce psychoactive effects or a “high,” especially in higher concentrations. Products with lower THC levels or higher CBD-to-THC ratios may offer therapeutic benefits without significant intoxication.
• Are full spectrum extracts suitable for everyone? The suitability of full spectrum extracts varies depending on individual health conditions, sensitivity to cannabinoids, and personal preferences. Consultation with a healthcare professional is recommended, especially for individuals with medical conditions or those taking medications.
• Where can I find high-quality full spectrum extracts? High-quality full spectrum extracts are available from licensed dispensaries, reputable online retailers, and wellness stores. Choosing products from trusted brands that provide lab-tested results and ensure compliance with safety and quality standards is essential.